Michigan Spyder Owners "Beach and BBQ" Event

[bjt]

When I was considering doing the UP ride, someone at work had made the comment "YOU ARE GOING TO DRIVE ACROSS THE MACKINAW BRIDGE ON YOUR SPYDER?'. I thought it was funny at the time....maybe not so...

You remember the story of the Yugo that got blown off the bridge years ago, don't you? :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes:


From a Wikipedia article about the Yugo: Full article

In 1989, 31-year-old Leslie Ann Pluhar, driving a 1987 Yugo over the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan, was literally blown off of the bridge's 36-inch railing by 50 MPH gales. This event was widely publicized at the time and is still referenced today in terms of the car. But in actuality every driver that day had been warned against traversing the bridge. Pluhar had insisted on making the crossing, and officials said later that excess speed was a factor in her death.

June 6, 2000 Detroit News article about the Mackinac Bridge. About 3/4 of the way down is another account of the car blowing off the bridge.

 

[bjt]

One other thing just occured to me, since this is an official BRP event, does that mean that we will get one of the special BRP event pins for this?

I can imagine it would be somehow related to the Woodward Dream Cruise just like The Homecoming pin had Americade on it.

 

[bjeffrey]

You remember the story of the Yugo that got blown off the bridge years ago, don't you? :yikes: :yikes: :yikes: :yikes:


From a Wikipedia article about the Yugo: Full article


June 6, 2000 Detroit News article about the Mackinac Bridge. About 3/4 of the way down is another account of the car blowing off the bridge.

1998 to late 2000 I was living in West Palm Beach, Fl. I didn't keep up with much going on up here that's actually the first I've heard about it.

The wife and I are going to head up within the next month but we'll probably take the Jeep.

 

[Bionic Pope]

They now have a lower sped limit on Big Mac an they will close right down if things gets two windy.

They has lost many a boat to.

 

[draboo]

I m from the Upper Peninsula and have crossed the Big Mac many times,tho just a few on a motocycle. The steel grating does make a motocycle a bit "weavey",but I m sure a Spyder will ride over the grating just fine.

BTW, my Spydie is finally on its way out here from Michigan. It should be delivered here in a week or so. I m getting really fired up and cant wait to do some exploring of this beatiful area around the Pugeot Sound.

 

[bjeffrey]

My :bowdown:wife and I hope to meet many of you tomorrow at the BBQ. I don't know what we will be wearing except I know I won't be in a speedo like daddydarko.

 

[daddydarko]

My :bowdown:wife and I hope to meet many of you tomorrow at the BBQ. I don't know what we will be wearing except I know I won't be in a speedo like daddydarko.

Here's a pic so you can be sure it's me...

 

[Rando]

For those of you who couldn't make it, you missed out on a fantastic day! There were around 50 Spyder's that showed up. The catered food was excellent. I should have some photos posted by tomorrow.

 

[bjeffrey]

Agreed with Rando....What a fantastic time. Now I know what I have missed in the previous get-togethers. The food was top notch, the Sea-Doo's were a blast. My wife and I made plenty of new friends.

Pics to come also as soon as I figure out where to store them so everyone can see.

 

[BRPjunkie]

We made the ride up from Jackson and got to enjoy the West Texas Barbeque from where else, Jackson. These guys are really good at catering these types of events and you will be hard pressed to find a better barbeque brisket. We had to make a quick turnaround so we didn't get a chance to meet many, but the Spyder spirit was in full force. So many Spyders with burn marks on the standard muffler that I don't feel too bad that that is the only problem I have (no brake squeals, no sticking parking brake, no overheating). I did notice that some of the burn marks had actually bubbled the paint. Mine just is a dull smudge. Great ride, great food, and hopefully all had a safe ride.

 

[bjt]

For those of you who couldn't make it, you missed out on a fantastic day! There were around 50 Spyder's that showed up. The catered food was excellent. I should have some photos posted by tomorrow.

Only 50? It seemed like more to me. Whatever the numbers, it was an impressive turnout by my standards. Many other Spyder attendees said they were impressed by the turnout too. I hope BRP felt the same and continue to do things like this for Michigan Spyders. The food and company was excellent. Eight of the people who went with us on the U.P. trip were there and it was great to reconnect with them. I got to meet others from the forums too and they were all great people.

There were two vendors there. Jimmy Mels from Mels Monster Garage and Mike Hatcher who makes a Spyder loading attachment for a Rampage lift. One more option for those who want to transport their Spyder. This one lifts a Spyder into the back of a pickup truck and looks like it works very well. His number is (313) 919-2121 for any who are interested.

Also, a red T-Rex showed up and drew a crowd for a while. It was sharp looking but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to get in and out of it. The seat appears to be no more than 6 or 8 inches off the ground and I'm sure anyone over 6 feet tall would struggle to contort their body to fit in the drivers seat.

Unfortunately, I forgot about taking pictures once I started visiting with people so I only have two photos of the Spyders lined up when I first arrived there.

 

[bjeffrey]

Here's the link to the pictures we took.

http://photobucket.com/spyders

 

[bjt]

Great pics bjeffrey.

 

[bjeffrey]

Thanks bjt, I just uploaded everything that was on the camera. I have to go through and get rid of some of them.

Winners at the picnic were:

Highest mileage - 8,7xx
Farthest distance travelled to BBQ - From Florida (a friend of Lamont's)
Best Custom Paint - The Orange w / gold pinstriping

I belive these to be accurate.

 

[bjt]

I wondered who won farthest traveled. I don't think the guy from Florida traveled all that way just for this event. I could be wrong though. The farthest I heard that anyone traveled just to come to the BBQ was a couple from Kalkaska, MI. About 200 miles each way.

 

[bjeffrey]

We had a guy with our dealership that drove up from south of Indianapolis, John I think. I didn't ask how many miles but he said it took him about 5 hrs.

 

[retread]

Good times, good food, good folks. Really good to meet some of the people on this site, hope to be seeing more next time I can get to one. I've really got to get risers, highway pegs and a better seat first. 900 miles in 2 days with the stock stuff is a little hard on this old body.